A Listing of L.A.'s Biggest Players in Reality TV Game.Mary-Ellis Bunim Mary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 - January 29, 2004) was a producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules. A native of Massachusetts, Bunim enjoyed a successful early career in daytime dramas. and Jonathan Murray Jonathan Murray (Born 1955) is a producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World , Road Rules, and Oxygen Network's The Bad Girls Club. He attended Fayetteville-Manlius High School and is currently in their Hall of Distinction. Partners Bunim-Murray Productions Claim to Fame: Co-produced MTV's "Real World" BUNIM and Murray first collaborated on the dramatic detective series "Crime Diaries" and a six-part reality series called "American Families" for Fox, which presented footage on the daily lives of various families... After hearing of MTV's plan to launch a soap opera soap opera Broadcast serial drama, characterized by a permanent cast of actors, a continuing story, tangled interpersonal situations, and a melodramatic or sentimental style. , they pitched "Real World" as a way of combining soap and documentary elements... Launched in 1992, it became a smash with the all-important 18-34 demographic... "Real World" is now in its ninth season... It is MTV's top-rated program... Bunim-Murray Productions was just signed to produce two more seasons... A "Real World" spin-off on MTV MTV in full Music Television U.S. cable television network, established in 1980 to present videos of musicians and singers performing new rock music. MTV won a wide following among rock-music fans worldwide and greatly affected the popular-music business. , "Road Rules," follows youths riding in a Winnebago around the U.S... Also produces "Making the Band" on ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. , which documents the real-life trials and tribulations of the young men in the boy band O-Town... The show debuted in March and has been picked up for another season... Before teaming up with Murray, Bunim produced over 2,500 hours of soap opera television for the shows "Search for Tomorrow," "As the World Turns," "Santa Barbara Santa Barbara (săn'tə bär`brə, –bərə), city (1990 pop. 85,571), seat of Santa Barbara co., S Calif., on the Pacific Ocean; inc. 1850. " and "Loving"... Later she signed on with New World Entertainment, where she developed children's programming, network daytime, and late-night television... A University of Missouri School of Journalism The Missouri School of Journalism [2] is the world’s first school of journalism. It was founded by Walter Williams on Sept. 14, 1908, on the campus of the University of Missouri–Columbia. graduate in 1977, Murray worked for six years in such places as Green Bay, Atlanta and Rochester on local television news, programming, and station management... Later worked at HRP Inc., a national television sales representative firm helping local stations to buy and schedule their syndicated programming. Stephen Siciliano Si`ci`li`a´no n. 1. A Sicilian dance, resembling the pastorale, set to a rather slow and graceful melody in 12-8 or 6-8 measure; also, the music to the dance. Mark Burnett Mark Burnett (born 17 July, 1960) is a British-American television producer. He is known for introducing reality television as a genre to the USA. He produced the USA version of the series Survivor and the Eco-Challenge. Founder Eco-Challenge Lifestyles Inc. Claim to Fame: Executive producer of "Survivor" FORMER member of British Army's Parachute Regiment Parachute regiment can denote
adj. Informal 1. Associated with the outdoors: outdoorsy hobbies such as fishing. 2. ") credentials... Founded production company Eco-Challenge Lifestyles in 1992, which has produced seven "multi-sport endurance" events -- sporting challenges made for television... In competitions, tries to focus on responsible land use and environmental awareness... Produced five-hour show staged in various exotic locations for Discovery Channel... That production won a Sports Category Emmy Award Emmy award Annual presentation for outstanding achievement in U.S. television. Its name is taken from the nickname “immy” for the image orthicon, a television camera tube. in 1996... Won another Emmy in Special Achievement category in 1998... Formed EcoChallenge Youth Foundation in conjunction with Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. ... Program sends city kids to rural locations to participate in sports challenges... "Survivor" concept was first produced in Britain 10 years ago by Charlie Parsons Charlie Parsons is a British television producer who created a number of notable television shows including Survivor. He also created The Big Breakfast and ''The Word. , a friend of Burnett's... He pitched the idea to CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. , and the network bit... His interest in "compassionate team dynamics
Stephen Siciliano Chris Cowan and Jean-Michel Michenaud Partners/Executive Producers Claim to Fame: Producers of "Temptation Island" Rocket Science rocket science n. 1. Rocketry. 2. Informal An endeavor requiring great intelligence or technical ability. Laboratories CREATORS of what promises to be the most controversial reality TV show since "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire?"... On "Temptation Island," which debuts January 2001 on Fox, couples in rocky relationships are sent to two separate resorts in Belize, men at one and women at the other. There, they're confronted by gorgeous specimens of the opposite sex trying to tempt them into affairs... After two weeks, they decide whether they still want to be with their partner... Also producing another highly charged series, "Shot Gun Wedding," debuting in November on Fox... Boyfriends are confronted on a TV stage and must either propose manage to their girlfriends in front of an audience in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. or be dumped... Rocket Science Laboratories has positioned itself as a premier documentarian doc·u·men·tar·i·an also doc·u·men·ta·rist n. One that makes documentaries or a documentary. for an elite group of Hollywood filmmakers... Collaborated with James Cameron
James Francis Cameron (born August 16, 1954) is an Academy Award winning Canadian director, producer and screenwriter. on one-hour Fox special "Titanic: Breaking New Ground" and with Steven Spielberg Noun 1. Steven Spielberg - United States filmmaker (born in 1947) Spielberg on one-hour NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. special "The Making of Jurassic Park"... Also produced reality-based documentaries like Fox's "Jon Benet Ramsey Story"... Cowan graduated from Ohio University Ohio University, main campus at Athens; state supported; coeducational; chartered 1804, opened 1809 as the first college in the Old Northwest. There are additional campuses at Chiillicothe, Lancaster, and Zanesville, as well as facilities throughout the state. with bachelor's degree in theater arts and drama and master's degree master's degree n. An academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the bachelor's degree. Noun 1. in film... Michenaud is a native of France and graduated from UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX with degrees in film, history and philosophy... Regarding the success of "Survivor, Cowan says, "All professional jealousy aside, I love it." Anita Talbert Mike Darnell Mike Darnell is the president of Alternative Entertainment for the Fox Broadcasting Company. He is largely responsible for many of the specials and reality series that have occupied the Fox schedule since the mid-1990s, including When Animals Attack!, Executive Vice President, Specials and Alternative Programming Claim to Fame: Created "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire" Fox Broadcasting Co. JOINED Fox in 1994, at a time when the network was doing 12 to 15 specials a year... Now it does around 80... Produced Fox's early forays into reality TV with fare such as "World's Scariest Police Chases," "Alien Autopsy: Fact or Fiction," and "Battle of the Child Geniuses"... Early hit with "When Animals Attack," a sort of "Wild Kingdom" meets "Cops." "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire" Came up with "Who Wants to Marry a Multi-Millionaire" in August 1999 while at wedding of wife's cousin "bored out of my mind," and saw potential of combining ABC's "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" hit with a fairy-tale wedding... While somewhat chastened chas·ten tr.v. chas·tened, chas·ten·ing, chas·tens 1. To correct by punishment or reproof; take to task. 2. To restrain; subdue: chasten a proud spirit. 3. over the "Multi-Millionaire" controversy, points out that ratings for February show were very high... Has green-lit at least six new reality shows for upcoming season on Fox, including "Boot Camp Software from Apple that enables an Intel x86-based Macintosh to host the Windows XP operating system. Boot Camp is used to divide the hard disk into Windows and Mac partitions, to install the necessary drivers and to create a dual boot environment. ," where contestants spend 28 days in remote locale living in barracks bar·rack 1 tr.v. bar·racked, bar·rack·ing, bar·racks To house (soldiers, for example) in quarters. n. 1. A building or group of buildings used to house military personnel. , competing for prizes (and voting each other out) while drill instructors "Lou Gossett them"... Also planning to debut "Temptation Island," where four or five couples travel to a romantic resort and spend two weeks dating attractive, single men and women while cameras rolls 24/7 to determine whether any of the couples stay faithful... Married, lives with wife and daughter in Calabasas ... "I'm just a regular viewer and just want to be entertained, that's the bottom line, whatever the show is," he says. John Brinsley Mike Itkin, Greg Lipstone, Benjamin Silverman Agents William Morris Agency Founded in 1898, the William Morris Agency is the largest diversified talent and literary agency in the world, with offices in New York City, Beverly Hills, Nashville, Miami, London, and Shanghai. Claim to Fame: Packaged "Big Brother" and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" PACKAGING is the art of putting ideas, producers and studios/networks together, and in reality TV this William Morris Noun 1. William Morris - English poet and craftsman (1834-1896) Morris team leads the way... Itkin (pictured) has roots in the genre extending back to "American Gladiator gladiator (Latin; swordsman) Professional combatant in ancient Rome who engaged in fights to the death as sport. Gladiators originally performed at Etruscan funerals, the intent being to give the dead man armed attendants in the next world. ," which ran in syndication for eight years... Thanks in part to a London-based associate, the group identified the European upsurge in variety shows and other reality TV early, including "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire," and worked to shape the shows for an American audience... Selection of Regis Philbin Regis Francis Xavier Philbin (born August 25, 1931) is an Emmy Award-winning American television personality best known for his roles as a talk show host, game show host, singer and presenter at various events. as host of "Millionaire" was in no small part due to fact that William Morris represents him... Scored big when CBS paid Dutch production company Endemol Entertainment a reported $20 million for "Big Brother"... Recently represented Endemol again in packaging "Chains of Love" to NBC, which until recently was the most reluctant of the networks to embrace reality TV. In "Chains," a member of one sex is shackled to four members of the opposite sex, who are voted out of the group every couple of days (private bathroom breaks allowed)... Also representing LMNO LMNO Leave My Name Out LMNO Laughing My Nuts Off Productions, which is putting on "Boot Camp" for Fox... "Boot Camp" originated out of UK's Grenada Entertainment, and William Morris facilitated relationship with LMNO... Itkin and Lipstone operate out of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. , Silverman out of New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , where he heads international packaging... "When we represent clients, it's not just being part of the sale (of a show)," says Lipstone, "it's being involved... in all aspects of keeping a show on the air." John Brinsley John Langley Executive Producer, Founder Langley Productions Claim to Fame: Producer of "Cops" CO-CREATED with (now retired) Malcolm Barber the groundbreaking series "Cops" for Fox... This year, "Cops" begins its 13th season... The granddaddy of video verite video vérité n. A television filming or videotaping technique in which the subjects are portrayed with frank, unbiased realism, as for a documentary program. [video + (cinéma) vérité.] , "Cops" allows viewers to ride shotgun in a squad car on the beat with real officers... Also produces "Anatomy of Crime" exclusively for Court TV, in its second season... Recently launched Crime.com, which offers users interactive crime-related information and news and includes the world's first live Internet feed from prison... Through "jail-cam," viewers can watch activity in a holding cell... Currently creating another reality-based TV series with director Richard Donner... Details under wraps... "Compared to other shows these days, 'Cops' is positively tame, but still has edginess and the element of surprise," Langley says... About the surprise success of "Survivor," Langley says, "It is not reality TV, but a game show with the elements of a soap opera- unlike 'Cops,' which is the purest reality show -- no actors, no narration, no host and no script." Highly varied career includes stint with U.S. Army Intelligence in Panama in late 1960s... After the Army, earned a master's degree in English and pursued Ph.D. studies at UC Irvine... After college, founded and published Valley Life magazine in Los Angeles... Also became a contributing editor A contributing editor is a magazine job title that varies in responsibilities. Most often, a contributing editor is a freelancer who has proven ability and readership draw. to Film News International. Anita Talbert Chuck Larsen President October Moon Television Claim to Fame: The first distributor of a syndicated reality TV show MTV's long-running "Real World" is the first reality show to enter the syndication market, and Chuck Larsen is in charge of selling it... His efforts are viewed as a test of whether such shows can stand the test of time and play as well in repeats as they do in first runs... Larsen agreed to distribute "Real World" when MTV couldn't find a distributor... He believed in the show because of its strong ratings and devoted audience... Ultimately signed up 179 television stations covering more than 90 percent of the country to air "Real World" reruns, which will premiere Oct. 2... Currently focused on making sure this season runs smoothly, but already talking with stations about taking on a second season... President of October Moon Television, a Pacific Palisades-based distribution consulting company Noun 1. consulting company - a firm of experts providing professional advice to an organization for a fee consulting firm business firm, firm, house - the members of a business organization that owns or operates one or more establishments; "he worked for a ... Essentially protects producers' rights and interests, while also assisting distributor with research, marketing, deal points and other strategies... Usually consults for networks or production companies that want to syndicate their programs... Will, on rare occasions, oversee distribution internally... Began career in entertainment as a radio disc jockey and news reporter... Also worked as a television news anchor with then-weatherman David Letterman in Indianapolis... Came to collaborate with Letterman on subsequent projects... Later served as president of MTM MTM Medication Therapy Management MTM Minutes to Midnight (Linkin Park album) MTM Mary Tyler Moore (actress) MTM Made to Measure MTM Motoren-Technik-Mayer MTM Methods Time Measurement Worldwide Distribution. Laura Dunphy Donna E. Lusitana President Greystone Television Claim to Fame: Executive produced over 600 hours for A&E's Emmy Award-winning series "Biography" GREYSTONE has garnered Emmys for such documentaries as "Hitler: Man & Myth" and "Pearl Harbor"... Like many TV documentary producers, Lusitana and partner Craig Haffner are breaking into reality television... Developing two new reality TV programs, "Paintball S.P.L.A.T." and "In-Laws & Outlaws" and currently pitching them to networks... "Paintball S.P.L.A.T." is being developed as a half-hour weekly series in which teams compete in more than 30 possible scenarios, sort of like war games only using guns loaded with paintballs... Points accumulated determine the amount of money the winning team picks up for its favorite charity... "In-Laws & Outlaws" is a real life "Family Feud"...One-hour weekly series takes place on a working ranch in Albuquerque, pitting families of a bride and groom soon to be married against each other. They are forced to ride entire days on horseback, sleep wherever the trails take them, and avoid being ambushed by their future in-laws 24 hours a day... They vie for a $200,000 reward. Other documentaries executive produced by Lusitana include "Ancient Prophecies & Angels" for NBC and "Brute Force -- The History of Weapons at War" for the History Channel... Longtime partners since their days at KABC-TV Channel 7, Lusitana and Haffner have been together over 20 years... During her years at KABC KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children between 1979 and 1986, Lusitana rose to the position of executive producer of programming. In 1987, she and co-worker Haffner left KABC to form Greystone Communication, where she is president of Greystone Television. Anita Talbert Erik Nelson Executive Producer Termite termite or white ant, common name for a soft-bodied social insect of the order Isoptera. Termites are easily distinguished from ants by comparison of the base of the abdomen, which is broadly joined to the thorax in termites; in ants, there is Art Productions Claim to Fame: Producer of "World's Most Dangerous Animals" and "Busted on the job" TERMITE Art claims to have more shows with more networks than any other American producer of reality programming... Has slew of cable shows, but made a name for itself on broadcast with "World's Most Dangerous Animals" on CBS and prime-time series "What's So Funny?" on Fox... Currently producing series of specials for Fox under the name "Busted on the Job, When Good Times Go Bad" featuring videotapes of employees committing illegal or dishonest acts... Nelson says game shows were strictly last year, and "Survivor" and its knockoffs are on the way out... He sees next trend as hidden-camera shows, "like 'Candid Camera' with an edge"... Company discourages pitches from outsiders, creates all program ideas in-house... Nelson started in television in 1979... In 1984, moved to Los Angeles to work for KABC-TV Channel 7... Produced "Legends of the Spanish Kitchen" with unlikely pairing of Lorne Greene and Phil Hartman, with music by Los Lobos... Left KABC in 1987... Wrote and produced "Secrets and Mysteries"... Became head writer for "Unsolved Mysteries" in 1988... Left for Four Point Entertainment in 1990, later became vice president of creative affairs,.. Wrote, directed and produced numerous documentary-style shows such as "Real Ghosts," "Missing Reward" and "Encounters" ... Started Termite Art Productions in 1995... Currently in production on reality-based shows for 10 different cable and broadcast networks, including "Great Streets" for PBS PBS in full Public Broadcasting Service Private, nonprofit U.S. corporation of public television stations. PBS provides its member stations, which are supported by public funds and private contributions rather than by commercials, with educational, cultural, , "Busted" for Fox, "Burlesque burlesque (bûrlĕsk`) [Ital.,=mockery], form of entertainment differing from comedy or farce in that it achieves its effects through caricature, ridicule, and distortion. It differs from satire in that it is devoid of any ethical element. " for A&E and "Ripley's Believe it or Not" for TBS. Norinne De Gal Douglas Ross Executive Producer Evolution Film & Tape Claim to Fame: Producer of "Big Brother" LUKEWARM reviews haven't deterred Ross and co-producers of "Big Brother" for CBS... Currently trying to breathe life into the show by offering $10,000 to any cast member who wants to make an early exit... Show apparently has alternate cast member waiting in wings who might give the show a lift... "Big Brother" received added hype on coattails coat·tail n. 1. The loose back part of a coat that hangs below the waist. 2. coattails The skirts of a formal or dress coat. Idiom: on the coattails of 1. of reality mega-hit "Survivor"... Format involves 10 people confined to Los Angeles home... Show airs six days a week, presenting video excerpts of the previous 24 hours in the sparse, utilitarian house... Intended as game show, with final person in the house receiving $500,000... Ross founded North Hollywood-based Evolution Film & Tape along with partners Greg Stewart and Rupert Thompson... Employs 10 full-time staffers and 70 contract workers... Evolution has attracted attention for its loose, unmonitored approach to its employees... Allows them to create their own hours and bring their children to work... Previously, Evolution produced reality series for Disney called "Bug Juice," centered on real kids at a summer camp in Maine... Other shows include "Totally Hoops" and "Movie Suffers"... Also involved in commercials and promos. Norinne De Gal Henry Schleiff Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. Court TV Network Claim to Fame: Put Court TV on the cable map JOINED Court TV as president and CEO in 1998, added chairman title last year... Credited with turning low-rated cable network, which showed little more than footage from trials when he arrived, into a player by adding original reality series and specials... Former attorney... Entered entertainment field as senior vice president of business affairs and administration for HBO Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) A form of oxygen therapy in which the patient breathes oxygen in a pressurized chamber. Mentioned in: Ozone Therapy ... Next became senior vice president of Viacom International Inc. before leaving for Court TV... Reality series launched under his watch include "Crime Stories," "Hollywood & Crime" and "Inside Cellblock cell·block n. A group of cells that make up a section or unit of a prison. Noun 1. cellblock - a division of a prison (usually consisting of several cells) ward "... Also added syndicated network shows like "Profiler," "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "Wiseguy." Newest crime-related reality show is "Confession," a half-hour weekly program premiering in September that is already eliciting controversy... Show is taken from Manhattan D.A. videotapes of actual criminal confessions... Also premiering on Court TV in December is "Brooklyn North," with unprecedented access to the Brooklyn North Homicide Task Force... Show captures everyday events of detectives and their personal lives over a period of five months... Continues to build on hallmark daytime trial coverage with anchors, co-hosts and commentators such as Catherine Crier and Alan Dershowitz... "Reality TV is a backlash against the frequently mundane fictional sitcoms and dramas," Schleiff says. "Manufactured reality, like 'Survivor' and 'Big Brother,' is relatively comfortable because it provides a Hollywood-produced version of life, while un-manufactured reality like you see on Court TV is often troubling, but more compelling because it provides a more real picture of the world in which we live." Schleiff is not surprised at success of "Survivor"... "If you take something different, novel and well-produced and place it against boring broadcasts and add music, coconuts and a million dollars, it does not surprise me (that the show took oft)." Anita Talbert Eric Schotz President and CEO LMNO Productions Claim to Fame: Producer of "Kids Say the Darndest Things" and "Guinness World Records: Primetime" BEGAN career as journalist for daily news program at public TV station KQED in San Francisco... After moving to Los Angeles, created hit magazine series "Eye on L.A." for KABC-TV Channel 7 in 1980. In 1990, founded LMNO (Leave My Name Oft) Productions... Last year, executive produced array of network and cable programs, including CBS series "Kids Say the Darndest Things," currently being evaluated for specials or syndication... Another success was Fox Network's hit series "Guinness World Records: Primetime" based on feats by people listed in the Guinness Book of World Records... This fall, LMNO premieres several knockoffs of British reality-based shows, including "Since You've Been Gone" and "Boot Camp," which Schotz calls a companion piece to "Survivor"... "Since You've Been Gone" sends four participants to a secret destination shut off from civilization and cultural influences for a week. Upon their return, each contestant is subjected to questions regarding current events and their own personal lives... "Boot Camp" will feature 16 participants, split equally among men and women, enduring a real-life, military-style boot camp run by former U.S. military drill instructors... Two finalists each earn cash prizes and a luxury trip around the world... "People like to watch people," Schotz says. "They like a good story that is compelling and dramatic, with a feeling of, 'There but for the grace of God go I."' Anita Talbert Sherri Sphillane Executive Director Ruth Webb Agency Claim to Fame: Represents several "Survivor" cast members SPILLANE is a talent agent who represents "Survivor" cast members Rudy, Sue, Gervase, Joel, B.B. and Sonja... She tracked down Gervase after he ate a live worm during one of the show's challenges... "He was making faces, hitting himself, waving his arms. A light bulb went off, and I said, 'I have to represent him,'" Spillane recalls... After she landed Gervase, others signed on... For a brief time she also represented the winner, Richard Hatch, but he "flew the coop" for Creative Artists Agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA) is a talent and literary agency which represents a vast array of actors, musicians, writers, directors, and athletes, as well as a variety of companies and their products. , she says... Her "Survivors" now have deals for TV, movies, personal appearances and commercials... They've received offers to comment during "Survivor II," set to premiere in January. The offers are flying in," Spillane says... Received more than 1,000 faxes, e-mails and phone calls during the two weeks following the season finale of "Survivor"... "I've been through media storms before, but this is crazy," she says... Left her acting career to join the Ruth Webb Agency in 1992... Turned it from an agency that represented Broadway stars and resurrected careers (for actors including Mickey Rooney) into an agency that represents people suddenly thrust into the national spotlight, usually because of a scandal... Signed first "scandal" client Tonya Harding after her attack on rival Nancy Kerrigan effectively ended her skating career... Signed scores of clients during the O.J. Simpson trial, including Kato Kaelin and a Judge Ito look-alike... Was a client of Ruth Webb's during her time as an actress... Starred in Las Vegas productions of "South Pacific" and "Oklahoma"... Former wife of Mickey Spillane. Laura Dunphy Lynne Spiegel Spillman Casting Director "Survivor" and "Survivor II: The Australian Outback" Claim to Fame: Picked the Regular Joes who became stars after "Survivor" As casting director for "Survivor II: The Australian Outback," endowed with task of overseeing who'll become the next Rich, Kelly, Sue and Rudy... Sifted through about 6,100 applications for the first "Survivor"... Waded through just under 50,000 applications for "Survivor II"... Beginning in June, received everything from rubber snakes, stuffed koalas and kangaroos, and blowup alligators, to a live turtle, treasure chests and a model airplane in the mail... Had a team of 30 employees helping review submissions... Kept them on standby during the last days of the application period, which ended July 28, in anticipation of a slew of candidates... Ended up receiving 10,000 tapes in one day... Got her start in casting through a high school friend, who got her a gig finding contestants for MTV's wacky dating game, "Singled Out"... Later worked on Comedy Central's "Make Me Laugh" and The WB's "Blind Date"... Was tapped to cast "Survivor" because of her experience with shows targeted at young viewers, a demographic CBS was eager to attract ... Now one of just a handful of people in Hollywood who solely recruit regular people to play themselves on TV... Grew up in Philadelphia... Married to TV reporter Eric Spillinan... Mother of two who hopes to finally return to a fairly normal schedule once casting for "Survivor II" is completed this month. Laura Dunphy |
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